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The kindness Expressed in Your last Favor Emboldens me
to trouble you again with an Account of the State of my Wife's Health ---
I had began to flatter myself from her gradual Amendment during the Winter
Season, (which used to be her Worst time) that her Complaints were gradually
wearing off -- Especially when she had Actually acquired more Flesh, and her
Appetite Continued very good -- indeed at this time, her Appetite is little or nothing
worse, for the Moment she is Easier -- she is as well and as Chearful as if she had
never been Diseased -- Excepting the Weakness she feels in her Stomach;
The Pain has never left her half A day since I had the honor to Consult You Personally
but it has been bearable - and Sometimes All but Easy ---- -----
Within these last 3 Weeks it has Returned with great Violence, at first it began
in the Morning about a Quarter of an hour after Rising, and Continued more or
less Violent till after Dinner, then Abated, and was tolerable till next Morning.
This appearance of Intermission Induced me to try the Bark, but as in former
tryals it had Affected her Breath like A Spasmodick Asthma, I joined an
Opiate with it and gave it before Breakfast -- I Cannot say it Affected her
Breath, nor indeed did I perceive any Alteration for the better -- perhaps I did
not proceed as far as I might have done having only given it 3 times A day -- &
then only in Strong decoction, If you think there is any thing of an Intermittent
in it & that we should try the Bark farther -- she is very Willing to do any thing
You propose; -- For myself I Cannot think any Fever Exists but what is Symptomatick
& brought on by the Excessive Pain which will Increase the Pulse about 12 in A minute
and brings on A great Heat & driness over the whole Surface -- & A severe drought but
as Soon as the Pain Abates -- those Symptoms disappear -- sometimes it greatly
Affects the Secretion of Urine, Making great Quantities; Pale - and very frequent

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at other times she will be Extreemly Ill - without any Such Symptoms -- but
Allways A lightness, and Some difficulty of breathing Attends severe Pain
with A Considerable Appearance Outwardly of Swelling upon the Region of the
Stomach & Diaphragm - & allways at those Times Costive, Mrs C-- begs I will
also tell You that the Pain ↑{illeg}↑ appears to descend more into her Bowells than it
used to do; for Some Considerable time she has not been able to Lye long upon her
Back without being Waken'd with Pain in the Stomach -- and lately she finds the
Same Inconvenience by Sleeping long upon her left Side, this is Unfortunate
as from A fracture & dislocation of her Right Elbow Early in Life, she can bear
no Pressure for any length of Time upon that Arm --- As it has been generally
thought most of the Disease is Local & Arising from a Super abundance of
Acids generated in the Stomach, and as You hinted in our last Conversation the
good Effect the Use of Lime Water Might have I am at this time beginning its
Use & mean to Proceed till I have the Honour to hear from You - when if from
the Above Recital you can propose any thing likely to be of Service, you
will add to the many Obligations Already Conferrd upon us both ---
I fear I am tedious -- I have only One thing more to Ask -- which is this
An Opportunity Offers at this time of Accompanying her Brother by Land
to Italy and perhaps of Staying over the Winter -- if You think such a Journey
and the Change of Climate might Restore her to Health, it is possible, however
Unwilling to go - she might be persuaded to it; but You think Home and
Such Remedies as Can be Administred might do as well, it would be much more
Agreable to us both to keep her here - She Relies with Confidence (as she
Ought) upon Your Judgment, and begs to join in Sincere good Wishes for Every
Part of Your Family -- We hope You have Enjoyed good Health during the
last Winter and that it may long Continue is the Prayer of Dear Sr

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Dr Cullen
Edinburgh

✍
Mr Cockayne
Concerning Mrs. Cockayne
June 1786
V. XVIII p. 181